Juvederm^®

Add Volume to Smooth Lines and Improve Facial Contours in Thousand Oaks

Stress, environmental pollutants, sun exposure, and the realities of aging all have a direct impact on your skin—and it isn’t good. All of these factors contribute to the breakdown of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin. Coupled with a downward migration of dwindling facial fat, these changes can cause everything from the formation of creases to the sinking in of cheeks to the development of jowls. Using the dermal filler Juvéderm^®, Thousand Oaks’ Dr. Peterson Pierre can restore lost volume and replenish hyaluronic acid to smooth lines and create contours associated with a more youthful face.

Juvéderm^® is one of many dermal fillers available to women and men seeking a cosmetic solution to the signs of aging. However, it currently stands out as a prime option for treating even severe lines and folds—and is the No. 1 filler worldwide. This injectable filler is formulated with a hyaluronic acid base, taking full advantage of the naturally occurring sugar the body makes on a daily basis to moisturize the skin.

How Does Juvéderm^® Work?

Since a loss of volume and hyaluronic acid causes signs of aging to appear, adding volume and hyaluronic acid back into the skin can reverse them.

How a specific treatment works depends on the conditions being addressed. In cases of creases, Juvéderm^® fills out the linear depressions, creating a more even surface. For facial hollowing and the development of jowls, the filler creates rounder mid-face contours that also serve as stronger supports to hold up the facial tissues below. Thin lips are physically plumped up (with Ultra XC), similar to adding a little air to a balloon to give it fuller curves. Filler can also be added under the eyes to reduce the appearance of hollows and tear troughs, used to shape the jawline (Volux), and restore a generally more youthful look via a “filler facelift.”

Because the hyaluronic acid-based filler can be so versatile, Juvéderm^® maker Allergan created multiple formulas of varying thickness and durability—each one suited for a specific feature. Once under the skin, the hyaluronic acid begins to attract water molecules to the treated areas, infusing them with additional volume and fullness.

What Are the Various Juvéderm^® Fillers?

Juvéderm^®

Dermal fillers are made to soften the look of lines that form around the expression areas of the face. Some widely available injectables, such as Restylane^®, consist of a more grainy substance. Juvéderm^® is the only dermal filler with a smooth gel consistency, so it has proven to produce the best results in a number of different situations—improving the look of even deep folds. As word has gotten out about this silky injectable filler, our patients who have used other fillers in the past are making the switch to Juvéderm^® for a more comfortable treatment and more natural-looking results for their lips.

With the flagship Juvéderm^® formula, Dr. Pierre can smooth out moderate to severe smile lines that resemble parentheses on the face, as well as similar folds. Results can last up to 12 months.

Juvéderm Volbella^®

Juvéderm Volbella^® is for bringing a youthful elegance to the face by adding subtle volume and shape to the lips while smoothing and softening wrinkles that extend outward around the mouth. Results can last up to a year, so patients are able to achieve long-term improvement in the appearance of their lips after just a single injection session.

Juvéderm Volbella^® is formulated using VYCROSS^™ technology that combines both low and high molecular weights. This results in a smaller concentration of hyaluronic acid molecules, which allows Dr. Pierre to use less gel and lower the risk of adverse side effects.

While almost anyone over the age of 21 and in relatively good health can choose Juvéderm Volbella^® injections, the treatment is most often undergone by individuals interested in making subtle changes to the appearance of their lips.

Juvéderm Vollure^™

Similar to the base Juvéderm^® filler, Vollure^™ targets wrinkles that become increasingly bothersome as you see them in the mirror. With this smooth gel treatment option, you can say goodbye to what are commonly referred to as parentheses lines running along the mouth and nose. Results of a Vollure^™ treatment last a bit longer: up to 18 months.

Juvéderm Voluma^®

Years of sun exposure, fluctuations in weight, and numerous other factors can lead to a loss in volume along with fine lines and wrinkles. Juvéderm Voluma^® was the first FDA-approved injectable designed specifically to address this by adding volume to three different areas of the cheek: the apex, the apple, and the hollow. When injected with skill and an eye for detail, the filler can create the look of higher cheekbones and facial curves more associated with youth.

Patients who opt for Juvéderm Voluma^® treatments will enjoy an overall softer shape to the face, with results that have been proven to last for as long as two years.

How Are Juvéderm^® Fillers Administered?

No matter the chosen formula, all Juvéderm^® fillers are introduced by injection into the skin. Before administering any treatment, Dr. Peterson Pierre will ask you about your cosmetic goals, current state of health, and medical history. Using this information, he will determine which Juvéderm formula—or other treatment—is the best option for you.

Before making the actual injections, Dr. Pierre may apply topical numbing cream. Juvéderm^® also contains lidocaine to ease discomfort during a treatment session.

After making the injections, Dr. Pierre will massage the treated area to smooth and disperse the filler. Following this, patients will be advised to avoid wearing makeup for at least 12 hours after a Juvéderm^® treatment session.

Why Choose Pierre Skin Care Institute for Juvéderm^® in Thousand Oaks?

Dr. Peterson Pierre is a board-certified dermatologist who handles all Juvéderm^® treatments himself. His techniques to minimize pain during the injection sessions have prompted his patients to start calling him “the gentle injector”—but he doesn’t sacrifice quality results for comfort. Each injection is made carefully, with Dr. Pierre taking into account the underlying facial structure, the long-term effects of the filler, other treatments being applied, the patient’s personal aesthetic wishes, and more.

The result is a customized result that looks both rejuvenated and natural.

When Do Juvéderm^® Results Appear?

Just as a beach ball starts to inflate the moment it is filled with air, Juvéderm^® injections yield results that are visible as soon as they are made. There is no waiting for collagen production to gradually smooth out the treatment area.

Because injections can cause some swelling, enhanced lips may look over-filled at first. Patients who are concerned about walking around with a dreaded “duck lips” look should give themselves a couple of days for the swelling to go down. Once it does, the true long-term contours will be visible.

The duration of a dermal filler depends on which formula was injected, as well as an individual’s unique metabolism, activities, sun exposure, and other factors. In general, most fillers last at least a year. Patients who want to maintain their smoother skin, fuller mid-face, and plump lips with fillers can get a new round of injections as needed.

Are There Juvéderm^® Side Effects to Watch For?

While some patients experience side effects like redness, swelling, tenderness, or bruising in or near the injections sites, these are typically mild and subside within a few days of receiving a Juvéderm^® treatment. After 12 hours, any minor skin discolorations in the area can be covered with make-up.

There are some extremely rare side effects, such as blindness, that are technically possible, so Dr. Pierre welcomes questions from patients who want to know more. He thoroughly explains what to expect and watch for during initial consultations with his patients, laying out the known benefits and potential costs of every filler treatment.

What Treatments Are Available to Complement Juvéderm^®?

Areas of the face that develop lines due to constant activity respond better to a different approach. BOTOX^® is an injectable commonly compared to Juvéderm^® for its skin-smoothing abilities, but aside from sharing a needle-based delivery method, the two treatments are very different. Rather than filling in lines, BOTOX^® relaxes the muscles that pull the forehead into folds or crinkle the skin around the eyes into crow’s feet. This can also be a more suitable option for patients seeking “eyelid fillers” to get a more alert and awake look.

Other cosmetic dermatology treatments available at Pierre Skin Care Institute include laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels to remove dead cells and microneedling to encourage collagen production.

Dr. Pierre has worked with all of these options for years, which gives him insight into the best ways to combine them for comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

Some patients want to learn about Sculptra®, which is a collagen-stimulating injectable not available from Dr. Pierre. He can, however, explain how this treatment works and suggest alternatives.